Kevin McNaughton has admitted his disappointment at being denied the opportunity to show Fulham what he was capable of after the London side cancelled his three-day trial.
The Craven Cottage club’s manager Chris Coleman originally wanted to watch Aberdeen’s versatile contract rebel in training before agreeing a £200,000 fee.
But just as he was preparing to travel south after the weekend win at Easter Road the Dons player, who is equally adept in defence or midfield, was the trial was off.
Fulham have now turned their attention to Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge, who has been frozen out of the Stamford Bridge side by Jose Mourinho, and McNaughton was the one to lose out.
That meant that someone who has rejected Aberdeen’s final offer of a new deal was back in training with the club yesterday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Tannadice instead of trying to clinch a dream move to the Premiership.
“I was disappointed when I heard, but I was under no illusions it was a done deal. It was always made clear that they were looking around for players,” said McNaughton.
